Jurors Hear Disturbing Evidence in Murder Trial of Athena Strand

In a Tarrant County, Texas courtroom, jurors were presented with audio and video recordings related to the tragic murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand, which occurred in 2022.

Judge George Gallagher advised attendees that they could leave if they felt uncomfortable with the material that was about to be shown. “If you don’t think you can be seen or heard, please leave now,” he stated.

One of the videos involved Tanner Horner, a former FedEx driver, as he was seen kidnapping and assaulting Athena. The footage depicted him arriving at her home and then passing a van that contained her.

In another instance, the child was observed engaging with the van, looking inside before Horner put her in and shut the door. Audio recordings captured her repeatedly asking him if he was her kidnapper.

“Jurors also listened to Horner threatening to harm her if she screamed. Some of Athena’s family who chose to stay for the recordings eventually left the courtroom,” reports indicated. In a chilling moment before he covered the camera in his truck, Horner remarked, “You look really pretty. Do you know that?”

Horner was heard telling Athena to take off her shirt, to which she replied no and pleaded for her mother.

The audio of the attack reportedly lasted over an hour and was filled with distressing sounds, including crying and screams. Jurors were visibly impacted and some were seen sobbing.

After viewing several clips, WFAA’s Rebecca Lopez and defense attorney Terry Bentley Hill discussed the disturbing nature of the content. Lopez noted that at one point, Horner drove Athena around while she questioned where they were headed.

“He then pulled over, and things turned graphic,” she commented. Hill explained that the state had attempted to present DNA evidence to demonstrate that sexually deviant actions had occurred but had only managed to provide audio. He described the recordings as “about an hour’s worth of torture” that Athena endured.

Lopez pointed out a particularly unsettling detail: “What’s creepy is he turns on his flashers, and you know it’s a FedEx truck. How many times have we seen FedEx trucks in our neighborhoods? With his flashers on, you can hear cars passing by, and I doubt those drivers had any idea what was happening inside that van.”

Both Lopez and Hill noted that jurors were visibly upset as they watched the video and listened to Horner. Hill remarked that initially, Horner seemed unsure of what to do after he had harmed her, but it became clear that his actions were entirely calculated, implying he used her for his own sexual gratification. DNA was reportedly found on Athena’s body.

Horner pleaded guilty to Strand’s murder, and the case has now progressed to the sentencing phase. Jurors face the daunting task of deciding whether he should receive the death penalty.

Reports have indicated the next steps in the case, stating that the jury will reconvene on Wednesday for the defense’s arguments. Procedural hearings are also scheduled for Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, where legal matters and potential objections to evidence will be discussed, although jurors will not be present for those discussions.

Wise County Sheriff Lane Aiken has recommended the death penalty in light of the brutal circumstances surrounding Athena’s murder. Recently, it was reported that Horner told investigators he “threw it away” after disposing of Athena’s body before returning to work.